Spring-gun.



H. L. CUSICK.

SPRING GUN. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1915.

1 1 62, 140, I. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

HYLAND LCUSIGK.

W INVENTOR. BY 2 ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA FLANDGRAY'H c0,,wAsm.\iTou. n, c.

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I-IYLAND L. CUSICK, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-GUN.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 3Q, 1915.

Original application filed February 3, 1915. Serial No. 5,919. Divided and this application filed May 5,

1915. Serial No. 25,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HYLAND L. CUSICK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Alleghenv and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

The present inventionrelates to improvements in spring guns as designed particularly for use in connection with a game or" parlor basket ball and is a division of my application for Patent Ser. No. 5.919, filed February 3. 1915, issued May 18, 1915, Patent No. 1.135.),497.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a spring actuated gun for projecting or shooting a ball through a ring or basket. the gun to be located at predetermined points on the game board and so constructed that it may be o erated with equal fac lity from any desired location.

The in ention consists in certain novel comb nations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed. I V

In the accompanving drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embod ment of my invention. constructed accord ng to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the game apparatus with which the gun is associated. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the gun, enlarged. and detached. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 5 which is a View partly in section showing the interior construction of the gun.

For a clear understanding of the construction and operation of my spring gun I have illustrated the game apparatus in the drawings, with which the gun is to be used. This apparatus includes a foldable base board 1 and upright wall 2, the former having av series of pockets 3 from which the gun may be fired and the latter having a stationary ring or basket 4 through which the ball 5 is to be passed as it is shot from the gun. In the drawings Figs. 1 and 2 T have illustrated by dotted lines the trajectory of the ball when, shot'iron various points, all toward the ring or basket.

The gun, which I have designed as a whole by the numeral 6 is portable, 2'. e. it may beoperated from any of the various pockets 3 of the game-board, and for accomplishing this result the gun is pivoted at 7 from a post 8 which is formed with a reduced end 9 adapted to be seated in any one of the pockets 8, the shoulder 10 forming a brace to hold the gun well supported and steady in the pocket.

The gun comprises a cylindrical barrel 11 having a cup 12 for its muzzle which is formed with an annular flange 13 secured over the open end of the barrel. The breech end of the barrel is also open, but is provided with interior threads to engage with the exterior threads of a socket portion 11 which has a shank 15 pivoted at 7 to the post 8. By this arrangement of the gun it will be seen that the gun, through its pivot 7, and its adjustment as to position with relation to the basket of the game apparatus, may be adapted to any required range in order to shoot the ball through the basket.

The gun is actuated by a compression spring 15 having one end seated in the socket 14 and its other end bearing against the closed end 16 of a tubular plunger 17. The plunger is slidable or movable within the barrel of the gun, and when in fired position is projected through a central opening in the muzzle cup 12 of the gun by the expanding action of the spring.

In Fig. 5 the spring has been released and the plunger has been pushed by the spring to inoperative position where it is held against further movement by the sleeve 18 which is bearing against the flange 13 of the cup or receptacle 12 fixed to the barrel 11. This slidable sleeve 18 is fixed to the plunger 17 and surrounds the barrel of the gun, but is permitted to slide thereon. The slide sleeve 18 is provided with 2. lug 19 which projects through a slot 20 in the barrel and this lug guides the plunger in its movement and prevents its rotation within the barrel. A. trigger 21 formed of a piece of bent Wire, is fixed in the lug 19, and a reinforcing band or ring 22 which is detachable, is used at the joint of the barrel with its socket member 14:.

When playing the game, the gun is actuated by pulling down on the trigger in Fig. 5 to retract the plunger and spring so that the plunger is Withdrawn from the cup or receptacle. The ball is then placed in the receptacle, the trigger is released and the spring forces the plunger through its barrel, impelling the ball from its receptacle, and if the aim has been perfect the ball passes through the basket 4. It Will be noted that the aim or range may be secured by turning the gun on its post or by swinging the gun on its pivot, until the desired angle is attained, and then While in this posit-ion the ball is ejected from its cup. The pivot 7 forms, in connection With the swiveled post and socket, substantially a universal adjustment for the gun so that it may be operated from any desired point or angle of the board, and the simple arrange ment of parts of the gun render its operation facile and accurate.

Vhat I claim is 1. The combination with a post adapted to detachably engage a suitable support, of a gun barrel pivoted to said post, a muzzle cup for the barrel and a spring pressed 1 plunger Within the barrel, a slidable sleeve on the barrel and fixed to the vplunger, means for limiting the movement of the Sleeve, an a tr g er or re a t ng t plunger.

2. The combination with a supporting post, of a slotted pivoted gun barrel and a muzzle cup for the barrel, a spring pressed plunger in the barrel having a sleeve slidable on the barrel, an annular flange fixed on the barrel and integral with the cup to limit movement of the slidable sleeve, and a trigger for retracting the plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HYLAND L. CUSICK.

Copies of vthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Qommissioner of la'cents,

' Washington, I), C." 

